Mukti for Mukta
B.P. Sanjay
A preoccupation with tele-serials is habitual. There are analyses galore with regard to television soap operas/tele-serials and their popularity. Construction and deconstruction analysis rip apart the serials, even as the producer and the channel laugh their way to the bank.
However, when a serial that had captured the attention of a substantial number of viewers in Karnataka and its Diaspora for three years plus comes to an end it leaves the viewer thinking. It was curtains for Mukta last week on ETV Kannada, viewers who had reserved their 9 pm slot for it may find it difficult to get into the grip of another serial for some more time to come.
Mukta, unlike the garish serials churned out from the Mumbai entertainment stable is a narrative with a middle class and lower middle class family setting and the world that revolves around them includes the impact of globalisation, and the struggle of honest politicians and bureaucrats/officials against the dominant dishonest, self serving political and industrial order. The system includes MNCs and their predatory practices with regard to precious ore, medicinal plants as well as the disquiet regarding admissions to professional courses and the menace of capitation fees. The list goes on but the manner in which the director Gauribidanur TN Seetharam handled these themes sustained viewer attention for days on end, and reflected the potential of the medium to handle such themes. Complicated themes were handled without succumbing to either glamorization of the characters or to melodrama. Salience with viewers and their real life dilemmas perhaps sustained their attention.
Attention to this serial was of the kind that we have read about during the epic serials where people used to shun visitors around the telecast time. In this case visitors joined the family and the serial became the topic of conversation with speculative assessment of what next and how the serial will end. Viewers also shared many of these views during the immensely popular "dialogue" sessions in different parts of Karnataka and elsewhere. To some of us living outside Karnataka access to the programme was dependent on the vagaries of the local cable operator and we had to be content with poor reception as it was in the last band. SMS queries and interspersed enquiries during our phone calls home satiated our interest in the serial.
A television industry analyst indicated that the TRPs for Mukta soared during the court scenes. Cleverly crafted cliffhanger endings ensured that the viewer comes back. Legal correctness apart which in any case ordinary viewers may not ponder, it allowed for some faith in the judiciary which could handle the ever dominant politicians and MNCs. Cynical mulling about whether it is so in reality persists in our minds, but for the duration of the episodes it had a cathartic effect.
Characters endeared themselves to the viewers and role model perceptions of police officers and politicians prevailed. The charismatic women police officer, Madhavi Patel, was popular and enjoys fan mail. It would be considered sexist to indicate that her popularity was perhaps relatively higher among male viewers. The foray into the naxal problem although short lived was interesting but the compulsions and pressures of the medium allowed the director to drop the issue mid-stream with an honest confession that he was doing so in deference to the unexpected developments. The influence of religious mutts with extended influence in social, cultural and educational spheres was another angle that was explored. It was a foray made to resolve the situation with regard to the protagonist of the serial. Feminist scholarship would also note that the key characters in the serial were not only sensitive but bold enough to defy conventions and usual pressures.
Criticism of it can stem from various quarters but the fact is that this serial had captured the imagination of the viewers during the 9pm prime slot. Despite the fact that a few of the nearly 700 episodes dragged and became time fillers, no one can deny the director and his team credit and applause for a family serial well made. To some of us exploring the DTH option to contend with vagaries of our cable operator to watch Mukta, the end to this serial has meant postponing our decision. Good work Seetharam and the Bhumika team.
B.P. Sanjay lives in Hyderabad and teaches communication. bpssn@uohyd.ernet.in